Friday, August 14, 2009

House a disaster? No food in the fridge? Piles and piles of laundry to fold? No problem! Just leave it all and go on vacation!


Okay no, we didn't up and jet over to Paris for the weekend. But we did take a mini vaca to Atlanta. I'm not kidding about my house being a disaster. I don't think I had ever seen such complete chaos in my own home. My sister Emily and I were trying to get a ton of projects done before she had to leave. That along with three very moody children did not allow us to clean up much (at all) the days before she left. When we headed out the door to drive her to the Atlanta airport, there were dishes piled in the sink and baskets of laundry to be folded. Garbage cans full of diapers and scraps of wrapping paper. As for the floor, you couldn't even see it.

Usually I am big on having the house totally clean before taking a vacation, but Shane, coincidentally, had to work in Atlanta for a few days, so I took advantage. Who am I to waste a stay at a 4 star hotel on the company dime?


Especially a hotel with a fantastic outdoor pool.

Even Collin took his first dip. Just for a few minutes.

And I actually dawned a swimsuit.

He liked the water, but enjoyed his little shade tent even more. Man, he is cute.

I opted for some quiet reading in the hotel, but the diehards stayed in the pool until well after dark.

Shane had to work the next morning, but the kids and I stuck around the hotel for a bit. Perfectly clean, no dishes to do, someone else cleaning up after us. Bliss. As for Lydia, what says vacation more for a 3 year old than watching a favorite show and drinking a juice box while sitting on your own hotel bed. "Mommy! The hotel has Calliou too!"

So it rained the next day. No problem. We were just a mile from ....

The Atlanta Perimeter Mall! And why do I love that mall so much?

Because Chattanooga is missing 4 things. And they are all in this mall - within 50 feet of each other. My main purpose for shopping (like I really ever need a reason) was to find a birthday gift for one of my best friends. Anthropologie is so fantastic for gifts. My sister Emily gave her husband some sage advice. "Buy me anything at anthropologie and I will be happy." Amen.
I ended up getting these great stoneware measuring spoons. Giada De
Laurentiis uses the same ones in white and blue, but in the end, the bright colors just seemed more birthdayish.
I really wanted to get her this butterfly necklace as well, but at $88, it was a bit out of my price range.
Inspired, I pulled out the jewelry making supplies as soon as I got home and made my own version. I came so close to keeping it. :)

Great vacation. Best part about it? When I got home from Atlanta, Shane had beat me there and the house was clean.

12 comments:

S Club Mama said...

Wow, cute necklace (the homemade one); how talented are you?
And he cleaned it for you?? Aww...my husband is like that, too. Well, he's like you and would clean it from top to bottom before we left (as he'll do today before we leave for my parents').

Mrs. Dirnberger said...

I love the necklace...I love the one that you made better though..and the price tag! I am glad you guys had fun, looked like a great little get a way

Green Acres in the City said...

Those getaways are the best!

Tiffany said...

So happy you got away for a few days!! Lydia's hair is so beautiful! Looks like you enjoyed yourself.

Kristin said...

i love your blog!

Cute post -- and I'll bet while you were away at that fab hotel and shopping at your favorite stores you never once thought about the messy house at home.
It's good to put things into perspective once in a while (says she with twins on the way who knows her house will be a disaster far more often than she'd even like to think about!)

beba said...

Fun! Wow, I think Lydia's hair has grown a foot since I've been gone. We'll be excited to see you guys when we get back in town. We're in Seattle right now.

Anonymous said...

I can recall your mother and I coming home many times to find that you had cleaned the house and done the dishes. I guess what goes around comes around.
Dad

Brittany said...

What a great husband you have... beat you home and cleaned the house! He's a keeper!
I L.O.V.E. Anthropologie... maybe someday when my husband is done with school I will be able to shop there and buy something that is not on sale! :) Can't wait!
BTW you are so talented I love the necklace you made!

{amy k.} said...

Way to be spontaneous- sounds like so much fun and looks like you guys had a great trip!

I am jealous of those 4 stores so close... they are so great, the advice for the hubs about anything from anthropologie is very wise indeed!

Collin is getting so big- he's adorable!

oh yeah- and I like your version of the butterfly necklace better. it's beautiful!

Christina said...

I am struck in awe that he came home and cleaned! Can he write a book or journal article and have my husband read it... a lot.

Are You Serious! said...

♥ FABULOUS pictures! and I would have left also... I don't know anyone that could have given up a trip like that either! :)

kristi lee said...

I adore the one you made...and the spoons make me smile every time I use them! Thanks for the fun bday surprises.

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